[OpenRelief Developer] Potential 'Computer' module (was: Re: Modules - a hardware overview post)

[Shane Coughlan]

On Mar 19, 2012, at 8:43 AM, Andrew Back wrote:
> On 16 March 2012 17:27, Shane Coughlan <shane at openrelief.org> wrote:
>> You will notice that we don't have a specific plan for how the modules can transmit their data if they are located outside a UAV (i.e. the module overviews are just about the single task, not how that task is communicated).  This is because it needs to be discussed whether another module - a networking module - could be beneficial. It is possible that a Raspberry PI and a wireless router could be used to provide a system that can take serial inputs, combine and reformat the data as required, and send it on via wire, wireless or even something like a USB GSM dongle. Such a module may also be useful as a quick and cheap computer for disaster zones.
> 
> I like the RPi idea. You can pick up OEM GSM modules, and it seems to
> me that a nice solution might be a custom RPi daughterboard that has
> one of these along with an RFM12B or whatever you use to communicate
> with remote modules. Someone has even started designing daughterboards
> for the RPi and made their layout design files available:
> http://www.designspark.com/knowledge/raspberry-pi-prototype-board-files
> So, it shouldn't be too hard to design something along those lines.
> Perhaps borrow from the SeeedStudio GSM shield for Arduino:
> http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/gprs-shield-p-779.html

This computer could act as a multi-purpose device, being a network node (collecting data from modules and then transmitting it), or an emergency computer system with a keyboard and HD screen. One thing I like is that it would mean that people don't need drones to use OpenRelief modules in the field, avoiding any a single point of dependency for people to deploy OpenRelief solutions.

The computer might also be a relatively easy task to complete; it's essentially gluing a few pre-existing components together:
- RaspberryPi
- RFM12B daughterboard
- GSM shield
- A SD module to get this to work as a network node collecting RFM12B and transmitting the data via GSM and/or wired network, depending on whether the latter is plugged in
- A SD module with the RaspberryPi OS and the RFM12B/GSM drivers to allow people to use this as a computer and/or visual monitoring station
- A very tough case

However, I would suggest we put the emphasis on the seismic detector, weather station, submersion detector and radiation detector modules first. These need to be built for the OpenRelief concept to take off. 

Regards

Shane